A Brief History of ISI
International Students, Inc. was incorporated in 1953 in Washington, DC. At that time there were approximately 33,700 international students on study visas in the US, and ISI had four area area ministries Berkeley, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Philadelphia PA; Washington, DC). During the 1960s, the international student population grew to over 100,000, and the staff expanded to 35, adding nine
additional ministry areas.
ISI shifted its ministry approach to more of a conference-based strategy in 1972 with the purchase and relocation of the ministry to Star Ranch in Colorado Springs. During the next 15 years, the international student population exploded to 420,000. ISI began ministries in 70 locations with a combined staff of 150 full-time and part-time individuals (team members), and founded sister international student ministries in Canada and Great Britain.
Because of the immense number of international students to be reached, ISI again adjusted its strategy. In the mid-1980s, ISI embarked on a path of equipping local church members to reach out to international students on nearby campuses. With the international student population over 698,000 in 2004, ISI took this strategy a step further by building a regional ministry structure to better support and serve local ministry teams.
ISI’s current president, Dr. Douglas Shaw, joined the organization in December 2001. After growing up and receiving his initial education in Calcutta, India, he came to the US nearly 35 years ago as an international student where he earned both an MA and a Ph.D. at California Graduate School of Theology. He has served several churches in California in either interim/consultative roles or as a senior pastor, having been ordained since 1974. He is the author of many articles and more than a dozen books and
training manuals. In addition to these, Dr. Shaw has served several para-church ministries, including Living Bibles International, Christ for All Nations, the Joshua Project/Mission America, and Every Home for Christ. Clearly his heart for and extensive experience in missions is evidenced in his passion for international students.
additional ministry areas.
ISI shifted its ministry approach to more of a conference-based strategy in 1972 with the purchase and relocation of the ministry to Star Ranch in Colorado Springs. During the next 15 years, the international student population exploded to 420,000. ISI began ministries in 70 locations with a combined staff of 150 full-time and part-time individuals (team members), and founded sister international student ministries in Canada and Great Britain.
Because of the immense number of international students to be reached, ISI again adjusted its strategy. In the mid-1980s, ISI embarked on a path of equipping local church members to reach out to international students on nearby campuses. With the international student population over 698,000 in 2004, ISI took this strategy a step further by building a regional ministry structure to better support and serve local ministry teams.
ISI’s current president, Dr. Douglas Shaw, joined the organization in December 2001. After growing up and receiving his initial education in Calcutta, India, he came to the US nearly 35 years ago as an international student where he earned both an MA and a Ph.D. at California Graduate School of Theology. He has served several churches in California in either interim/consultative roles or as a senior pastor, having been ordained since 1974. He is the author of many articles and more than a dozen books and
training manuals. In addition to these, Dr. Shaw has served several para-church ministries, including Living Bibles International, Christ for All Nations, the Joshua Project/Mission America, and Every Home for Christ. Clearly his heart for and extensive experience in missions is evidenced in his passion for international students.